426 "BUBO. EAGLE-OWL. 



the cere. Eyes extremely large, fixed, oblique ; eyelids with 

 broad thin crenate margins, and ciliary fringes of short dis- 

 tantly barbed feathers, the upper eyelid much larger. Conch 

 of the ear simple, elliptical, very large, being from a third to 

 half the height of the skull, its slightly elevated margin fringed 

 with slender feathers. Fig. 242. 



Head very large, broad, somewhat flattened above, anteriorly 

 narrowed ; neck short ; body short, stout, of greater depth 

 than breadth, much narrowed behind. Legs rather short, 

 stout ; tibia of moderate length ; tarsus short, rounded, closely 

 feathered ; toes short, strong, covered with short close feathers ; 

 all with two scutella at the end, padded and with conical pa- 

 pillae beneath ; the first very short, with much lateral motion ; 

 the fourth longer, and reversible so as to be placed at a right 

 angle to the third, which is considerably longer than the second. 

 Claws long, well-curved, tapering, very acute, rounded above, 

 convex on the sides, narrow beneath ; the third with a dilated 

 inner edge. 



Plumage very full and soft, somewhat firm above, but blend- 

 ed. Facial disks incomplete above the eyes, their feathers 

 oblong, with loose filaments, the anterior longer, stiffer, and 

 partially concealing the bill. Ruff" incomplete and inconspi- 

 cuous. Feathers in general oblong and rounded ; those of the 

 thorax and abdomen downy, but covered by two large bunches 

 arising on the sides and fore part of the thorax. Wings long, 

 very broad, much rounded ; primary quills broad and rounded ; 

 the first three sinuate on the inner web, the first four with the 

 outer web slightly cut out ; the third quill longest ; secon- 

 dary quills about fifteen, very broad, and rounded. Tail of 

 moderate length, broad, rounded, of twelve slightly arched, 

 rounded feathers. 



The birds of this genus are among the largest that occur in 

 the family of Striginas, presenting in this respect some vague 

 analogy to the Eagles among the Falconinse. Some of the 

 smaller bear a great resemblance to the species of the genus 

 Asio, which are equally furnished with tufts on the head, but 

 are readily distinguished by the different form and much larger 

 dimensions of their conch. They prey on quadrupeds and 



